By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Gemini Moon. The Moon will trine the Sun before the day is out. This will give the first day of the week a harmonious outset, but all things are subject to change. Positioned in Libra, the…

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like an emailed notification sent to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below. Want to hear more from Mother of the Skye? Check out Mother's Celestial Inspirations for a deeper look into this weeks horoscopes Mother of…

Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 7-8—BELMONT—Cider Days is returning to Belmont Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7-8. Watch fresh cider being made on a century old press and then enjoy a cup of that cider (hot or cold) with home-baked apple pie or crisp topped with ice cream or Crowley Cheese. Come to Belmont and take it…

Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m.—PITTSFORD—The Pittsford Sheep Festival has been offering free entertainment for over 25 years. This year it will be held on Oct. 8, the Sunday before Columbus Day, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Pittsford Recreation Area off Furnace Road in Pittsford. Local craft vendors, felters and spinners will have booths featuring…

Oct. 6-9, 13-15—KILLINGTON—Killington Resort, the largest four-season destination resort in eastern North America, will host its second annual WitchCraft event Oct. 6-9 and Oct. 13-15. The festival’s return marks an expansion from being a one weekend event in 2016 to two full weekends this year, as WitchCraft at Killington is quickly becoming a family tradition. “WitchCraft offers an…

BURLINGTON—A scientist at the University of Vermont and four of his undergraduate students have discovered 15 new species of “smiley-faced” spiders—and named them after, among others, David Bowie, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. You won’t find them in Washington, D.C., Hollywood, or Vermont, but on Caribbean islands and other…

BURLINGTON—Vermont’s first winter sports show, the VT Ski + Ride Expo, is coming back to Burlington this year, Oct. 7-8, with a new location: the downtown Hilton. Vermont’s premiere winter sports show, VT Ski + Ride Expo is being put on by the Rotary Club of Burlington for a second year. It benefits the Flyin’ Ryan…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger The board of trustees of the Vermont State College system unanimously appointed Karen Scolforo to be president of Castleton University, Thursday afternoon at its annual retreat. In December, Scolforo will take over for retiring President Dave Wolk. VSCS Chancellor Jeb Spaulding backed the board’s decision. “We know we can’t clone Dave Wolk, but…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger A Vermont native who earned high school and college degrees in the state before becoming a middle school special education teacher in California is among those killed in the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history Sunday night in Las Vegas. Sandy Casey, 35, was born and raised in Dorset, the…

Dear Editor, Recently, Ethan Allen Institute President Rob Roper posted an op-ed with the inflammatory, sensational title, “So Second Home Owners Can Vote in Vermont?” Perhaps as intended, Mr. Roper’s attention seeking commentary caused significant confusion and concern about Vermont’s residency law for voting purposes. As Vermont’s chief elections official, let me set the record…

By Lee Hamilton A dozen years ago, the preface to a report on federal election reform began with these words: “Polls indicate that many Americans lack confidence in the electoral system, but the political parties are so divided that serious electoral reform is unlikely without a strong bipartisan voice.” I can find no part of…

By Sue Skaskiw Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society was able to fill a 34-foot RV owned by volunteer Barry Newton with cat, dog, horse, bird and rabbit food  (32 banana boxes full!); Vari-kennels, (pet carriers enabling abandoned animals to find their way to safety); medical supplies including flea, tick, ear mite medicine, antibiotics and…

By Carl Diethelm, a.k.a “Compost Carl” Most people remember visiting “the dump” as a kid and being awestruck by the sight of piles and piles of stuff. There were big machines building mountains with the materials, and if you were lucky, there might be an old bike to ride down the hill! It sure wasn’t…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger Several victims of crime spoke out Tuesday, Sept. 19, at a “listening” forum in Rutland hosted by the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, Waterbury. They talked of feeling guilty for coming forward, not getting justice and the impacts of what happened to them that they live with every day. “This…